---
title: "Newcastle: Magpies ‘leading the race’ for Kalvin Phillips"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-magpies-leading-the-race-for-kalvin-phillips/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-05-17T20:35:37Z"
modified: "2022-05-17T20:35:37Z"
---

# Newcastle: Magpies ‘leading the race’ for Kalvin Phillips

**It looks like Newcastle United versus Aston Villa in the race to sign Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United, according to a source at [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-newcastle-and-aston-villa-lead-the-race-to-sign-kalvin-phillips-after-leeds-twist/).**

### The lowdown

Phillips and Leeds are scrapping for Premier League survival as the season enters its final week.

The Whites currently sit in 17th place, a point ahead of Burnley, but they have played a game more.

[The Daily Mail’s Matt Hughes](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10786799/Leeds-face-exodus-stars-damaging-relegation-release-clauses.html) recently claimed that Phillips is one of the players with a release clause that will become active if Jesse Marsch’s side drop.

It’s thought to be in the region of [£30million](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10786799/Leeds-face-exodus-stars-damaging-relegation-release-clauses.html), half the £60million figure quoted by [The Times’ Jonathan Northcroft](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kalvin-phillips-aston-villa-lead-race-for-60m-leeds-united-midfielder-h3f0fqsws) earlier in the year.

[Newcastle news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-6/)

### The latest

The publication report that Phillips’ future is very much ‘up in the air’ amid the risk of Leeds being relegated.

Talks between the player and the club over a new deal have also stalled, adding to the uncertainty around the plummeting price tag.

A [‘recruitment source’ has told FI](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-newcastle-and-aston-villa-lead-the-race-to-sign-kalvin-phillips-after-leeds-twist/) that Newcastle and Villa are ‘leading the race’ for Phillips, having each identified him as a ‘top target’.

They currently have the edge on Manchester United in the battle for his signature.

At this stage, they’re laying the ‘groundwork’ for a potential deal.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389224″\]

### The verdict

Phillips, England’s reigning player of the year, could form part of an excellent midfield trio at St James’ Park.

In theory, he may play alongside Newcastle’s [newly-crowned POTS](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/joelinton-named-player-of-year-23972338) Joelinton and [£37.9million](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bruno-guimaraes/profil/spieler/520624) January addition Bruno Guimaraes, who has himself been dubbed ‘different class’ by [journalist John Gibson](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-star-who-different-class-23702678).

Given Phillips’ credentials – he was also named in [The Guardian’s Euro 2020 Team of the Tournament](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/12/euro-2020-team-of-the-tournament-from-donnarumma-to-sterling) – this is the kind of trio that can elevate Newcastle to another level.

This is a player who left Xavi[‘extremely impressed’](https://sportslens.com/news/xavi-hernandez-full-of-praises-for-declan-rice-and-kalvin-phillips/) after his ‘[superb](https://sportslens.com/news/xavi-hernandez-full-of-praises-for-declan-rice-and-kalvin-phillips/)‘ showings on the run to the Wembley final, and so signing him at a 50% discount would be something to celebrate on Tyneside.

**In other news, [Newcastle are ‘confident’ of landing this forward](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/reims-transfer-news-hugo-ekitike-premier-league-3/).**